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Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:58 am
by hyperpep111
If I want to make a freeware plane e.g a T-50, Would I have to get permission from Sukhoi? Cause I really dont want to get into trouble if I start

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[center]Ren
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:21 am
by garryrussell
Some manufacturers are sensitive especially if it's a current aircraft
Not often problems, but really there is little point in asking anyone other than the manufacturer themselves. :-/
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:26 pm
by Capt.Propwash
I have heard that there is no real problem with making a plane for FS. Most Manufacturers wont really care. The problem lies in painting/texturing it. If it is going to be a "fictional" paint job, rock on. But if you were going to do something like a BOEING 757 - DELTA AIRLINES (which you already said you were not, youre wanting a Sukhoi) .... you would have to contact DELTA AIRLINES and get permission from them to use their likeness / design.
BUT!!!!!!!! To err on the side of caution, I would still attempt to contact Sukhoi and ask their permission to use their likeness for a Fictional Paint/Texture for Flight Simulator, and would they put said permission in writing and mail it to you.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:28 pm
by DaveSims
The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream. The most realize it is just a sim, and is a compliment that people want to spend the time to recreate their aircraft for it, or at least just don't care. Gulfstream seems to think it will taint their image, or they would lose control of the rights to it, by having their aircraft modelled. Either that, or their legal team is just that bored, they want to pick on the little guys that will never be able to afford to fly on one.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:29 pm
by DaveSims
[quote]I have heard that there is no real problem with making a plane for FS.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:30 pm
by Hagar
BUT!!!!!!!! To err on the side of caution, I would still attempt to contact Sukhoi and ask their permission to use their likeness for a Fictional Paint/Texture for Flight Simulator, and would they put said permission in writing and mail it to you.
I would leave well alone. No point in stirring up trouble where none exists. I can't believe the authors of the large variety of freeware aircraft posted all over the Internet contacted the manufacturers for permission. Payware is different.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Thu Aug 25, 2011 4:40 pm
by hyperpep111
[quote]The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 2:06 pm
by DaveSims
[quote][quote]The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:47 pm
by hyperpep111
[quote][quote][quote]The only manufacturer I have ever heard of taking issue with their aircraft is Gulfstream.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:53 am
by machineman9
When I started making my Grob Tutor model (something that I need to start over with and sort out) I went to speak with Grob Aerospace first. I told them that I wanted to make a non-profit aircraft for a game and asked if they had any issues with it. I also asked them if they had any blueprints or other design pans that I might see... Guess what? I got permission and approval and I was sent PDFs of their basic plans and various technical views of the aircraft. In terms of breach of copyright, you should largely be okay so long as it is non-profit. It would most likely come under 'fair use' policies and be seen as a parody of their work, or a derivative. So it should be okay to replicate any aircraft as it is merely deriving from the original design and they probably won't care anyway for secret aircraft as the 'secret bits' would never be made public so they couldn't be injected into the game at all!
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:59 am
by ozzy72
The general view is freeware is fine to do whatever you like (otherwise we'd have had George Lucas on our back about X-Wings and things in FS), however payware you do need to discuss with the manufacturer as some don't like you making money on the back of their products. That said I know several people who've got permission on the grounds it is great publicity for their products.
So as long as you're going freeware I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck with getting the data and cockpit photos plus specs, I don't think much is in the public domain but hey I'm sure it'll be fun to fly

Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:17 am
by DaveSims
The general view is freeware is fine to do whatever you like (otherwise we'd have had George Lucas on our back about X-Wings and things in FS), however payware you do need to discuss with the manufacturer as some don't like you making money on the back of their products. That said I know several people who've got permission on the grounds it is great publicity for their products.
So as long as you're going freeware I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck with getting the data and cockpit photos plus specs, I don't think much is in the public domain but hey I'm sure it'll be fun to fly

The Gulfstream projects I am talking about were destined to be freeware. That however did not stop the company from taking offense, and threatening legal action. While you may be vindicated in court about it being freeware and public domain, who here has the money and time to fight the system.
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:21 am
by ozzy72
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:28 pm
by hyperpep111
Where do you get all these articles? :-?

:P
[center]Ren
Re: Copyright

Posted:
Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:38 pm
by machineman9
Where do you get all these articles? :-?